It’s back!
Twenty years later Tatra Press has kindly allowed me to bring back Grounds For Golf now that golf architecture is of more interest to the masses. A new Introduction looks at what’s driven the interest growth and two new chapters I had a blast adding (plus a few edits to keep things up-to-date).
The Amazon purchase page for the book arriving June 15, 2026.
Last week the Daily Mail's Graham Otway and Jack White's quoted agent Chubby Chandler as suggesting Darren Clarke was nearly broke before he won the Open Championship and, well, I didn't pay much attention to it because it's the Daily Mail.
Sean Martin on Tom Watson, asked today at the Greenbrier about the resurgence in amateur golf, with Watson all but pointing out the absurdity of labeling many of today's amateurs...amateurs.
Charles McGrath reveals a couple of interesting things about the long and winding road to getting Golf In The Kingdom on the big screen. The film arrives this week in select cities. (Thanks reader Jack for this).
Bill Spurr profiles Cabot Links and the town of Inverness as the much-anticipated links opened last weekend. There's an enjoyable video showing the town and sites along with a nice sidebar of travel tips for those thinking of making the trip.I haven't paid much attention to the LPGA's designation of the Evian Masters as a fifth major other than to read the criticism of some writers who aren't too impressed by the news.
Dave Hackenburg previews the U.S. Senior Open at Inverness where a peculiar sounding rerouting has taken place to help with gallery flow.
John Strege in his weekend roundup has several items of note, including this on the island green follies that broke out during Sunday's windy Nordea Masters final round at Bro Hof Slott Golf Course.
Harris English, understandably confused for a character in a P.G. Wodehouse novel, did not win a Nationwide Tour event Sunday. Instead, it was Harris English from the University of Georgia, who outdueled another amateur, LSU's John Peterson. Throw in another impressive PGA Tour performance from UCLA's Patrick Cantlay at the Canadian Open, and you have to be impressed with the showing of college golf's finest.I remember the good ole days when I'd suggest distance gains were not good for the game and I'd get funny looks, nasty looks, and in general, suggestions I was a communist-sympathizer.
Even better were the times I'd suggest course setups were rigged to offset/emasculate/cover-up regulatory incompetance and I'd get the look folks used to give to those who suggested the moon landing was actually shot on a San Fernando Valley soundstage.
Joe Chemycz with the lowdown on amateurs in the first two spots of the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational heading into Sunday and a third in the top ten.
LSU's John Peterson birdied three of his final five holes and maintained his lead after three rounds at Ohio State University's Scarlet Course. Peterson's 14-under 199 total is one shot better than college rival Harris English of Georgia, who carded a bogey-free 68.
"We had our college stuff on and it was just the two of us out there together. It really didn't feel like a professional tournament," said English, dressed in his red Bulldog shirt. "We were joking on the range that we thought our college coaches were going to show up at some point, and they still might."
You may recall amateur Russell Henley won earlier this year on his home collegiate course.
Geoff Shackelford is a Senior Writer for Golfweek magazine, a weekly contributor to Golf Channel's Morning
Copyright © 2022, Geoff Shackelford. All rights reserved.
